• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Events
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • THE SPORTS CREDENTIAL
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Darius Rucker Celebrates Ninth No. 1 Song With “For The First Time”

October 19, 2018/by Jessica Nicholson

Pictured (L-R): songwriter Scooter Carusoe, Darius Rucker, songwriter Derek George. Photo: Ed Rode

Capitol Records Nashville artist Darius Rucker celebrated his ninth No. 1 country single, “For the First Time,” with a party at performing rights organization ASCAP’s Nashville office on Wednesday (Oct. 17).

ASCAP’s Mike Sistad led the celebration, in conjunction with First Tennessee Bank, honoring Rucker as well as “For The First Time” songwriters Scooter Carusoe, Derek George and producer Ross Copperman.

“The first time I heard it, I just knew this was the biggest smash ever,” Copperman said. “Derek sent me this demo and he sent me a lot of tracks to use so I thank him for that. Darius is one of my musical heroes so it’s an honor to work with him.”

Derek George has 25 years in music business, with hits spanning three decades as songwriter producer and publisher. In the past six years, produced eight top 10 hits, with five hitting No. 1. This is Derek’s third No. 1 as a songwriter.

“Alicia Pruitt set this write up and she is like my soul sister,” Derek said. “I want to thank Darius for liking the song and singing the crap out of it. Ross you make incredible records. Travis you know I love you man and I’m so happy to be here. Capitol thanks for working this song so hard on the charts.”

Scooter Carusoe, part of the Nashville music community for 20+ years, celebrates his fifth No. 1 as a writer and 15th No. 1 as a publisher with “For The First Time.”

Carusoe said, “I got an email from Alicia saying, ‘Hey do you want to fly to Charleston and write some songs with Darius Rucker?’ No, I don’t want to do that,” he laughed. “I could be putting nail in a roof or something.’ I say that jokingly, because what a blessing it is to do this job for a living, and specifically on this song and with these guys.”

Pictured (back row L-R): Warner/Chappell Vice President of A&R BJ Hill, ASCAP Senior Creative Director Mike Sistad, Capitol Records VP Promotion Bobby Young, UMG Nashville VP Promotion David Friedman, Carnival Music’s Frank Liddell, Rezonant Music Publishing CEO Tim Wipperman, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville President/CEO Troy Tomlinson; (front row L-R): songwriter Scooter Carusoe, Darius Rucker, songwriter Derek George. Photo: Ed Rode

Since Rucker released his first country album in 2008, he has earned four trips to the top of the country albums chart. In 2014, he earned a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance for “Wagon Wheel.”

Among those in attendance were Troy Tomlinson from Sony/ATV, Rezonant’s Tim Wipperman, Carnival Music’s Frank Liddell, and David Friedman from Capitol Records Nashville. Sony/ATV also made a donation to MusiCares on behalf of the songwriters.

“Ten years ago, Hootie [& the Blowfish] decided to take a break and I decided it was time to make my country record,” recalled Rucker. “ I say this every time I’m up here, but I’ve been on labels that you don’t want to be on before, and every day, I thank God I’m on Capitol Records. I’m 52 years old and you guys still fight for me like I’m that new kid and you want to break my first record. To my publishing partners, you guys allow me to write songs for a living. What is better than that? Ross, you made a great record. When I say you made a great record, there’s a reason my records don’t say ‘Produced by Ross Copperman and Darius Rucker.’ I don’t know shit. I show up and I sing and you made a great record. I can’t wait until we get to do it again.

“Charles Kelley [of Lady Antebellum] called me when this song went No. 1 and said, ‘Darius, this never gets old does it?’ I said, ‘No, number ones never get old, ever.’”

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Jessica Nicholson
Jessica Nicholson
Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at [email protected].
Jessica Nicholson
Latest posts by Jessica Nicholson (see all)
  • CMA Honors Robert Deaton With Chairman’s Award - December 4, 2020
  • Nashville Symphony, Nashville Musicians Association Reach Agreement - December 4, 2020
  • Zach Williams’ “Chain Breaker” Is Most-Added On ‘MusicRow’ CountryBreakout Radio Chart - December 4, 2020
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
0 0 Jessica Nicholson https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Jessica Nicholson2018-10-19 11:49:112018-10-19 11:49:11Darius Rucker Celebrates Ninth No. 1 Song With “For The First Time”
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

RECENT NEWS

  • Weekly Register: Taylor Swift Scales The Country Albums Chart December 5, 2023
  • MusicRow’s 2024 N.B.T. Industry Directory Highlights The Next Generation Of Leaders December 5, 2023
  • Cody Jinks To ‘Change The Game’ With Forthcoming Album December 5, 2023
  • MusicRow Reveals Next Big Thing Artists Class Of 2024 December 5, 2023
  • Dustin Lynch Graces The Cover Of MusicRow’s 2024 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue December 5, 2023
  • Chayce Beckham Maintains Top Five Position On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart December 4, 2023
  • Josh Del Joins Good Company Entertainment As Creative Director December 4, 2023
  • Chris Fabiani To Exit Warner Music Nashville December 4, 2023
  • Miranda Lambert Announces Final Dates For ‘Velvet Rodeo: The Las Vegas Residency’ December 4, 2023
  • ACM Announces Voting Timeline & Category Changes For 2024 Awards December 4, 2023
  • SMACK Elevates Molly Bouchon To Director Of Marketing & Artist Development December 4, 2023
  • Musicians On Call Announces New Music Industry Advisory Board December 4, 2023
  • CMA Presents Jim Free, Mike Dungan With Honors December 4, 2023
  • Cole Swindell To Kick Off ‘Win The Night Tour’ In May December 4, 2023
  • Tape Room Music Partners With Warner Chappell & Red Light Management To Sign Ned Cameron December 4, 2023

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top